Deviation device of a towing or suspension ropeway

ABSTRACT

A deviation device of a towing or suspension ropeway, including a revolving support for laterally deviating the hoisting rope of the ropeway, on which rope spaced load carriers are secured each having laterally a transversal part, all these parts projecting horizontally from the same side of the rope, the revolving support being equipped with a plurality of rope guiding elements each being transiently displaceable in order to leave a gap in the row for the transient entrance of such transversal part when the same passes together with the hoisting rope through the deviating range of the revolving support.

United States Patent" DEVIATION DEVICE OF A TOWING OR SUSPENSION ROPEWAY 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 104/191, l04/l73, 104/182 Int. Cl 13611) 11/02, B6 1 b 7/10 Field of Search 104/ l 73, 182, 191, 197; 74/230.l8, 230.21, 230.24; 198/130 Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Robert W. Saifer AttorneyMichael S. Striker ABSTRACT: A deviation device of a towing or Suspension ropeway, including a revolving Support for laterally deviating the hoisting rope of the ropeway, on which rope spaced load carriers are secured each having laterally a transversal part, all these parts projecting horizontally from the same side of the rope, the revolving support being equipped with a plurality of rope guiding elements each being transiently displaceable in order to leave a gap in the row for the transient entrance of Such transversal part when the same passes together with the hoisting rope through the deviating range of the revolving support.

PATENTED mam: 557,705

sum 2 o 2 DEVIATION DEVICE OF A TOWING QR SUSPENS ION ROPEWAY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a deviation device of a towing or suspension ropeway, e.g. ski towing or suspendingseat ropeways, and allows to. deviate the hoisting rope thereof laterally also unto the side where the load carriers secured on the rope have a transversal part projecting horizontally from the rope, which parts made a deviation untothat side hitherto impossible.

SUMMARY.

According to the invention there is provided a deviation device of a towing or suspension ropeway, ineluding a revolving support for laterally deviating the hoisting rope of the ropeway, whichsupport is equipped witha pluralityof ropeguiding elements arrangedin a continuous row in the revolving direction and forminga deviation track for the rope, each, element being transiently displaceable out. of its supporting cooperates with the revolving rope-guiding elements for lifting I the same at the place where a loadcarrier part may enter into the row of elements andfor permitting their return into the row when no carrier part has entered or: when the same has left the deviating range of the revolving support.

In another embodiment of the invention the control means can be provided as.cams securetl to.thehoisting rope for. travelling therewith, eachof. these cams beingadapted to lift only those guiding elements outof their row which would be an obstacle for the laterally projectingpart of a load carrier when it enters the row of elements, and which cam permitsthe return of. the lifted elementjnto the row when, the projecting.

part leaves the deviating range of the; revolving support.

BRIEF CRIPTIO 05 e DRAWINGS Two preferred embodiments of a deviation deviceaceording to the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows a vertical section through the periphery of they deviating wheel of the device; with a rope-guiding element in its rope-supportingposition;

FIG. 3 shows a horizontal sectionalongline lil -ill in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 showsa vertical section similar to, FIG. 2, with a v rope-guiding element lifted above its rope-supporting position; I

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective viewof a second embodiment of the device; and

FIG. 6 is a top view upona detail in connection with the,

hoisting rope.

DESCRIPTION .OETl IE PREFERRED EMBQDlMEN-TS The suspension ropewayhas a hoisting rope 1 to which evenly spaced load carriers 2 are secured each by means of a rope coupling 3 having a transversal axle, 4 wherefrom the load carrier 2 is pivotally suspe ded all of these axles 4 projecting horizontally frorn the sarne side of the rope ILA horizontally revolving wheel 5 mounted on a mast which is not 7 shown is provided for deviating the rope I from the entrance direction unto the rope side showing the axles 4. The wheel 5 is equipped along its periphery with a plurality of equal ropeguiding elements 6 forming a continuous rowvfor supporting FIG. 1 is a perspectiveyiewofithedevice according the rope I along the deviating range thereof. Each element 6 is slidably guided with a T-shaped profile portion 7 (FIG. 3) in a corresponding vertical slot 8 of the wheel rim and has on its peripheral side a groove-9 for receiving and supporting the rope I. Preferably, the elements 6 are made of artificial resin.

A ring 10 is mounted on the rim of the wheel above the row of elements 6 (FIG. 2) with space therefrom. Each element 6 accommodates in a borehole a pressure spring 11 bearing against the ring for resiliently maintaining the element 6 with a radiallyprojecting nose 12 thereof in sliding engagement with an annular rim 13 of a stationary disc 14 being rigidly mountedon-the mast. This rim l3 has an elevated cam portion 15 provided to lift the elements 6 against the action of their springs 11 when the noses l2 slide upon the cam portion 15 for creatingagap 16in the row of elements into which gap may enter an axle 4 and rope coupling 3 when passing the rope-deviating range of the wheel 5. if such coupling 3 and axle 4 of a loadcarrier 2 have entered the gap two of the lifted elements, 6 cannot. return, into'the rope-supporting position since they are stopped in their downward movement by the coupling 3 and axle 4 while all other lifted elements 6 being not withheld return into the rope-supporting position in the row under. the action of their springs 11 by sliding downwards from the cam portion .15 due to the continuous rotation of the z wheel 5. Of course, if there is no coupling 3 and axle 4 to enter the gap 16, all the lifted elements 6 return successively into their. rope-supporting position. When the coupling 3 and axle 4 leave the deviating range of the wheel 5 also the two withheld elements 6 close the gap by returning into the row.

The nose 12 of the element 6 may be provided with a roller for moving on the rim 13. It is also possible that in the ropesupporting position of the-elements 6 their noses 12 could rest on the rim of the wheel and then run or roll upon a stationary cam mounted above the angular section where the gap in the rowof elements must be created.

Instead of such stationary control means for creating the gap 16 in therow of elements the second embodiment of the deviation device according to FIGS. 5 and 6 is equipped with control means being rigidly provided on the rope coupling 3 and being formed by a shieldlike shoe 20 which projects slightly above the axle 4 from the coupling 3 and is downwardly chamfered at the free end 21 and on the sides 22. Just before a coupling 3 of the travelling hoisting rope I is going to enter ,the deviating range of the rotating wheel 5 the shoe 20 of this coupling arrives with its free end 21 somewhat below the reached elements 6 and lifts the same by its chamfered surfaces 21 and 22 due to its entering movement. During the creation of the gap l6.the shoe 20 and therewith the coupling 3 and'axle 4 penetrate fully thereinto and leave it at the end of the deviating range whereby the lifted elements drop again into their rest position in the row of elements. This dropping of the elements 6 may occur automatically by the own weight since in this embodiment preferably no compression springsare provided for restoring the elements, which restoring may be easily supervised or fully obtained by a checking member.

Instead of the rotating wheel a revolving apparatus in the manner of a caterpillar track could be provided whereon the elements 6 would be movably mounted and displaced to create a gap-in similar manner as described above.

I claim:

1. A deviation device of a towing or suspension ropeway, including a hoisting rope, spaced load carriers having each a rope coupling by which they are secured to said rope and forming a transversal .part on said coupling, said parts projecting substantially horizontally from the same side of said rope, a revolving support for laterally deviating said hoisting rope, a plurality of rope-guiding elements mounted on said support in a continuous. row in the revolving direction and forming a supporting and deviation track for said rope, each element being transiently displaceable out of its normal position in the row, and control means adapted to engage those guiding elements which are to be displaced for creating a gap in the row of elemerits, which gap permits the entrance of said rope coupling and projecting part of a load carrier when the same reach the deviating range of said revolving support.

2. A deviation device as claimed in claim 1-, wherein the control means are stationarily mounted in the path of said rope guiding elements.

3. A deviation device as claimed. in claim 1, wherein the rope-guiding elements are displaceable transversally to the plane of revolution of said support and said control means are formed by a stationary cam in the path of said elements.

4. A deviation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein to each of said rope-guiding elements a spring member is provided for tending to resiliently maintain the element in its normal position.

5. A deviation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means are mounted on said hoisting rope.

6. A deviation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means are formed by a cam mounted in connection with said rope coupling on said hoisting rope and projecting therefrom unto the same side as said transversal part of said load carrier. 

1. A deviation device of a towing or suspension ropeway, including a hoisting rope, spaced load carriers having each a rope coupling by which they are secured to said rope and forming a transversal part on said coupling, said parts projecting substantially horizontally from the same side of said rope, a revolving support for laterally deviating said hoisting rope, a plurality of rope-guiding elements mounted on said support in a continuous row in the revolving direction and forming a supporting and deviation track for said rope, each element being transiently displaceable out of its normal position in the row, and control means adapted to engage those guiding elements which are to be displaced for creating a gap in the row of elements, which gap permits the entrance of said rope coupling and projecting part of a load carrier when the same reach the deviating range of said revolving support.
 2. A deviation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means are stationarily mounted in the path of said rope guiding elements.
 3. A deviation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rope-guiding elements are displaceable transversally to the plane of revolution of said support and said control means are formed by a stationary cam in the path of said elements.
 4. A deviation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein to each of said rope-guiding elements a spring member is provided for tending to resiliently maintain the element in its normal position.
 5. A deviation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means are mounted on said hoisting rope.
 6. A deviation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means are formed by a cam mounted in connection with said rope coupling on said hoisting rope and projecting therefrom unto the same side as said transversal part of said load carrier. 